MWC Barcelona survival guide

MWC Barcelona 2019 – the largest mobile event in the world – is almost upon us, and if you’re heading to the annual show, now’s the time for some crucial last-minute prep. With more than 100,000 visitors and more than 2,300 brands and companies descending on the vibrant city, this guide will help you survive the madness. Whether you’re an MWC newbie or you’ve been more times than you can remember, follow these simple tips so you don’t get caught out.

Before you go

Give yourself ample time to pack to avoid any last-minute panics. We recommend you take the following:

A couple of travel chargers and a back-up mobile battery pack to top-up on power in the afternoons (you’ll be helpless if your top of the range smartphone is out of battery by 11am!)

A pack of all the necessary printed work documents you might need out there (and save a contact number for a local print shop to your mobile, as a back-up) – many of you will be attending a range of meetings at the show, and while it is a celebration of digital technology, sometimes you’ll need your key files in paper form. It’ll also give you a break from staring at a screen all day!

Spare USB sticks and Lightning cables (you can never have too many)

Comfortable shoes – you’ll be doing a lot of walking and will be on your feet all day, so this is a must

While you’re there

As you can imagine, trade shows like MWC are a real test of stamina and endurance, so make sure you line your stomach with a healthy breakfast each day to keep you going. Getting enough shut-eye is also key. So, while it’s often tempting to stay up late enjoy the Barcelona night life (there’s lots on offer), you’ll need all the energy you can muster for networking the next day.

Another thing to watch out for is your travel money – no need to waste it! MWC Barcelona is providing everyone with a free transport pass when they collect their badge. This will give you unlimited Metro and FGC train rides during event days, as well as one free trip to Barcelona airport. Knowing the extra offers of your pass is always worthwhile at MWC; for example, this year an Exhibitor pass will allow you to attend a range of conferences at no extra cost (the first time this has been possible).

And don’t forget to grab a map of the city from the hotel, as well as downloading an offline map to your phone. Traffic is notoriously bad in Barcelona, so give yourself plenty of time to get to the venue ahead of your first meeting of the day.

It’s also worth downloading the official #MWC19 event App which can link to your entry badge and will help you get the most out of the show with access to the agenda, list of exhibitors and speaker line-ups. It will also help you network by recommending new contacts based on your interests.

Consider downloading a note-taking app like Evernote, which syncs automatically across all your devices and operating systems. So, whether you’re jotting something down on your phone or typing up thoughts on your laptop, your notes will always be together.

And one final thing: make sure to get your whole team on a WhatsApp group or something similar – without that, it’s seemingly impossible to stay in touch with a set of busy people at such a fast-moving venue.

As you’re all prepping for the show, we’re just putting the final touches to our MWC Barcelona 2019 booth, so if you’re coming, make sure you stop by at Hall 2 stand 2J41. We’d also love to hear your top tips for survival in the comments section below or by tweeting to us @GemaltoMobile.